Governor David Paterson's creation of a review panel for immigrants haunted by minor convictions comes as a breath of smart leadership in a nation marred by Arizona's racist policies. Other state executives should follow his lead.

Too many children are losing parents to deportation. Immigration detention, raids and deportation don't only affect undocumented immigrants and their often mixed status families. They also net immigrants with legal status who have old, minor criminal convictions used to channel them into deportation.

Immigrant legal clinics have described some of the stories of people caught in a broken, unfair immigration system – from veterans of the U.S. military suffering from post traumatic stress and who once turned to drug use, to fathers and mothers with families who long ago turned around their lives. Some plead guilty to criminal charges under misguided advice or without being aware of the long-term implications.

Even though these individuals already paid their debt to society, they and their families are at risk of being doubly punished through deportation.

Paterson's panel will only recommend pardons for individuals who have contributed as New Yorkers and who deserve relief from deportation or indefinite detention. "This initiative will help to preserve the wealth of good that immigrants have provided our State, and will stand as a symbol of justice and humanity that captures the spirit of New York," he announced on Monday.

We applaud Paterson's leadership on this issue. The state legislature should also act by passing a bill proposed by State Senator Eric Schneiderman. This bill requires state courts, prior to accepting a plea to a misdemeanor or violation, to advise a non-citizen defendant of the risk of deportation.

But the fundamental change – in the form of sensible and humane immigration reform – must come from Congress and the Obama administration. Leaders can't preach families values on one side and then turn around and deport a parent who already paid for their mistake.